Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might not have been able to be helped during the past, end drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better understand what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.